China robotics firm offers $18m for chief scientist

UBTech Robotics, a Chinese company specialising in humanoid robots, is seeking a chief scientist, offering a salary of around $18 million a year. According to Bloomberg, this is an unusually high level of pay in China’s artificial intelligence sector, which typically avoids such extreme compensation.

The successful candidate would lead the development of strategy in humanoid robotics and embodied intelligence, linking physical machines with artificial intelligence. The role would also involve overseeing research into AI models. The company plans to expand its team by dozens of engineers.

Interest in humanoid robotics is growing in China, as seen at the CES 2026 technology fair and in television programmes watched by millions. Confidence in the sector has also been boosted by the successful listings of Chinese AI firms Minimax and Zhipu in Hong Kong.

Robotics is a priority for the Chinese government. UBTech has reported strong revenue growth, with income from humanoid robots and services rising more than twentyfold year on year. The company is also working with firms such as Airbus to apply AI in practice.

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